A recent study published in the Journal of Perinatology used longitudinal data from pregnant individuals to assess the relationship between prenatal cannabis use and perinatal outcomes. Study: The longitudinal assessment of prenatal cannabis use on neonatal outcomes. Image Credit: OMfotovideocontent / Shutterstock.
com In the United States, the use of recreational cannabis has risen following widespread decriminalization and legalization in many states. This is reflected in increasing use among various sub-populations, including pregnant individuals. In a recent survey, approximately 22% of pregnant women did not consider weekly cannabis use to be risky.
In fact, many pregnant women consider cannabis to be useful in reducing nausea without causing any health risks to the offspring. This perception is not supported by published literature, which has reported the negative association between cannabis use and fetal outcomes. Cannabis use during pregnancy could result in low birth weight in infants and is a well-known predictor of infant mortality and morbidity.
Prenatal cannabis use may also lead to developmental delays, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurobehavioral issues. Nevertheless, there is limited research on the association between prenatal cannabis use and perinatal loss. Preliminary evidence suggests that chronic cannabis use can prevent implantation and placentation development by adversely impacting the endocannabinoid processes.
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